Building up mailing lists are one of the main endeavors of anyone who really pays attention to their marketing efforts
. It's obvious that the more they grow, the more you're voice is heard. Text marketing and advertising is a "permission" based form of marketing which means that instead of disrupting your customers, they volunteer to listen to what you have to say. With that said, there are a few things to keep in mind when trying to get a person to sign up...
Offer them something! Whether it's a good deal or something absolutely no cost, it's a quick and easy way to get customers on board. It also shows them that they mean something to you. Think about how much that "free something" or discount will cost you in comparison to being able to now repeatedly communicate to someone who already cares about your business. It's a great trade for both parties.
Let them know how often you'll be touching them. This is a big one! People don't like spam. Furthermore, it can ruin your reputation if you flood their phones with text messages everyday. Just like the example here, say something along the lines of "Receive up to 4 msgs/month" or up to "2 msgs/week". It will help build a certain comfort that you wont be taking advantage of them. Make sure you stick to the volume you quote them!
You can also opt people into your list by punching in their numbers in manually. Some may want this more if they don't have their phone on them or if their in a hurry. You can gather numbers via forms on your website, sign up sheets at your front counter or from merchant copies from service tickets. It is deeply important, however, that you have their consent before adding them to your list! Some indivduals may be upset and offended if you begin marketing to them without their permission. Also make sure you still let them know of the number of times you'll be touching them with your text marketing!